Name George Jones | ||
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George Jones (1811–1891) was an American journalist who, with Henry Jarvis Raymond, co-founded the New-York Daily Times, now the New York Times
Biography
Jones was born in 1811 in Poultney, Vermont. He moved to Ohio for a time, but moved back to Vermont after his parents died. Jones was employed at the Northern Spectator. By 1833, George had moved to Troy, working in dry goods, and later in banking. After spending a few years in New York City, he moved to and became a banker in Albany, New York. He and Raymond issued the first issue of the New-York Daily Times on September 18, 1851. The two had first become acquainted while working at the New-York Tribune under Horace Greeley. Jones solicited funds to begin the newspaper, earning contributions from investors in Albany and Aurora, including Edwin B. Morgan, as well supplying $25,000 from himself and another $25,000 from his former banking partner Edward Wesley. The paper began publishing as the New York Times on September 14, 1857.
Upon Raymond's death in June 1869, Jones took over as publisher. Between 1870 and 1871, the paper had been repeatedly attacking Boss Tweed through editorials by George William Curtis and illustrations by Thomas Nast. Tweed tried to buy Raymond's widow's 34%, but Morgan purchased it before he could. Tweed also offered Jones $5 million dollars to not print the story, Jones refused. The efforts of the Times contributed to the downfall of Tweed and his corrupt city government.
Jones died in 1891 and is interred in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York.